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Yin and yang from Kitchen Trends volume 2408
With most of life's projects, there are a number of confines within which we all must work. For certified designers Beth Kopin and Jim Dase this kitchen remodel came with a few confines of its own.
The original kitchen was a separate room to the rest of the living area, and the homeowner wanted it to stay that way, says Kopin.
"We were asked to remodel the space, but to leave utilities pretty much where they were. The kitchen is a long, narrow area without room for an island, so the best concept was to go with a galley style."
With a wish list including contemporary cabinetry and stainless steel, the next issue was to come up with a design that wasn't too industrial or oppressive.
"The owner chose a very clean-fronted cabinet style that was to be darkly stained," says Dase. "To lighten the overall look, and to ensure the kitchen retained some link with the rest of the house, the remaining materials were kept neutral.
"Ribbed glass inserts on most of the upper cabinets add a sense of lightness. An angled end with open shelving also breaks up the solid banks of cabinetry below."
The linear design was also softened by recessing the pantry wall at the far end of the space.
"As well as breaking up the parallel lines on each side of the room, the narrower pantry wall allows more room for the table and chairs. I've discovered that unless you're planning a walk-in, a pantry doesn't need to be more than 12-15 inches deep, otherwise you tend to lose your canned goods at the back," says Kopin.
The mix of materials also serves to mask the symmetry usually associated with a galley kitchen. Each surface produces a different effect in a range of lighting conditions, says Dase.
"The kitchen gets ample natural daylight. When designing lighting for a room, you must consider its night-time use. We used recessed lights in the ceiling, augmented with interior-cabinet and under-cabinet lighting. Each scheme creates a different interplay with the surrounding elements."
Kopin says the finished result is a balance between the diverse materials, light and shadow, and the color palette.
"We've used a series of contrasts that are, in the end, a cohesive whole."
A glimpse of what's to come.This kitchen, by Beth Kopin and Jim Dase, is designed to both stand apart from its surroundings and complement them.
Light and dark, matte and high gloss, opaque and translucent – contrasting materials have been used to aesthetically address the linearity of the galley design, as well as to create visual interest through the play of light on each of the surfaces.
The main objective of the remodel was to make the kitchen a more usable space. The homeowner is an avid card player, so a table and chairs were an important addition. The material palette had to be both good looking and durable. Porcelain tiles were chosen for the floor for their easy-care nature. Rather than a grid layout, a broken-joint pattern was used to break up the straight lines of the room. Near the stove, a stainless steel countertop was selected for its ease of cleaning.
The kitchen's design works visually because each separate element is in balance with the others. Harmony is achieved through contrast of color, texture and materials.
The stainless steel range hood, backsplash, countertop and drawer fronts are a dynamic counterpoint to the surrounding dark cabinetry. Thoughtful placement of recessed and under-cabinet lights adds drama to the space.
Credit List
Kitchen designers
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Beth Kopin, ASID NKBA, Kopin Interiors; Jim Dase, NKBA CMKBD, Abruzzo Kitchens (Chicago, IL)
Cabinetry
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Brookhaven vista veneer in cherry by Wood-Mode; Bistro stainless steel
Countertops
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Stainless steel; white diamond granite with built-up edge
Flooring
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Honed Crema Valencia porcelain from Mona Lisa Stone & Tile
Blinds
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Silhouette Window Shadings in Flirt linen by Hunter Douglas
Kitchen table
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Frosted glass by Ca'Nova Design from Design Studio
Faucets
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Tara classic profile single level mixer from Dornbracht
Story by Justin Foote
Photography by Eric Hausman
View of kitchen designed by Beth Kopin, ASID NKBA of Kopin Interiors and Jim Dase, NKBA CMKBD of Abruzzo Kitchens (Chicago, IL) features a Savona ventilation system by Zephyr.
View of kitchen designed by Beth Kopin, ASID NKBA of Kopin Interiors and Jim Dase, NKBA CMKBD of Abruzzo Kitchens (Chicago, IL) features a Savona ventilation system by Zephyr.
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